![]() ![]() While cacti have spread in horticultural popularity around the globe, they are native to the New World. Beyond the aesthetic appeal, cactus flowers also provide necessary food for hummingbirds, bats, bees, and other pollinators. Yellow, orange, white, and burgundy flowers are also common in various types of cactus. In contrast to their globular shapes and spikey flesh, cactus flowers display an unparalleled beauty. Some of the hybrids are spectacular, with petals combining purples, reds, oranges and often an iridescent overlay, all on the same flower. Cactus flowers can be various colors from deep pinks to beautiful shades of red. They need shade and ample water during the growing season, very good drainage and cool drier conditions when they are dormant. In the United States, orchid cacti grow in USDA zones 10 through 11. Hummingbird moths in the sphinx family pollinate the flowers. Plants appear as if they have thick, scalloped leaves, but this is actually a flattened succulent stem. You may have noticed a decreased number of blooms this year compared to last year. Large white flowers, tinged with pink or yellow in some species, are borne on very long floral tubes connected to the plant stems. Cactus experts report below-average flower counts. Orchid cacti grow in tropical jungles of Central and South America, living on tree branches or cascading over rocks. Many of these hybrids also have the sweet fragrance of their parents. The common name comes from the large, bright-colored flowers of cultivated hybrids created by crossing white-flowered wild orchid cactus species (Epiphyllum spp.) with other cacti that have vivid blooms. ![]()
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